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Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Duties & Responsibilities:

A post-doctoral position is available immediately to study the regulatory mechanisms of transporters underlying addiction, anxiety, autism, depression, OCD, and other brain disorders. The successful candidate will perform in vivo studies using knock-out and knock-in mice parallel with cell culture and brain tissue studies to investigate the contribution of GPCR-linked regulated transporter in normal behavior and the consequence of dysregulated transporter regulation in brain disorders. Techniques include: cell culture, western blots, trafficking, molecular biology, rodent survival brain surgery, intracranial infusion (pharmacological and genetic-viral reagents), DREADD-mediated manipulations of neuronal activity, microscopy, and several behavioral assays, including drug self-administration, conditioned place preference, memory, fear extinction, depression, and pain-related behaviors.

For additional information and a complete bibliography, refer to the websites:

https://pharmtox.vcu.edu/about/our-team/sammanda-ramamoorthy-phd.html and https://pharmtox.vcu.edu/about/our-team/lankupalle-d-jayanthi-phd.html.

Salary will be competitive based on experience. The applicant is also expected to work during weekends since several behavioral assays need continued attention to laboratory animals. Candidate must be able to analyze data, write publishable manuscripts, and communicate and work effectively with others in collaborative efforts.

Core Responsibilities:

• Experimental plans, conducting experiments based on the hypothesis and goals
• Data analysis and presentation, manuscript preparations
• Animal colony maintenance as needed
• Literature search

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in biotechnology, neuroscience, molecular biology, biological sciences, behavioral pharmacology, or the equivalent with experience in animal studies and cell biology. Verbal and written communication skills in English.

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a postdoc at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

Research experience utilizing rodents for behavioral assays, biochemical and molecular analysis, and rodent surgery.

This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.

Salary Range: NIH minimum starting at $62,232

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Other

Rank: Non Faculty

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org